Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, March 26, 2025:
El Paso drops death penalty pursuit for Walmart shooter
The man responsible for the racist attack that killed 23 people at a Walmart in El Paso in 2019 will be given a plea deal that does not include the death penalty, according to local reports. The prosecutor in the case has informed victims’ families of the decision, marking a significant shift in the high-profile case.
Aaron Montes of KTEP in El Paso has followed this story from the start and joins Texas Standard with more:
Federal judge blocks Texas A&M’s drag show ban, clearing way for Draggieland
A federal judge has temporarily halted the Texas A&M University System’s ban on drag shows at its special event venues. The ruling means that Draggieland, the annual drag performance at the university’s Rudder Theatre, will proceed as scheduled on Thursday.
Lucio Vasquez, breaking news reporter for The Texas Newsroom, joins us with the latest.
Suhoor festivals unite Houston’s Muslim community for Ramadan
During Ramadan, Muslims begin their fast each day with a pre-dawn meal called suhoor. While traditionally eaten at home with family, Houston has seen a rise in community-wide suhoor festivals in recent years.
Natalie Weber reports on how these gatherings have become a way to celebrate and connect during the holy month.
Whistling through life: a Texas tradition?
For commentator W.F. Strong, whistling was an essential part of growing up in Texas. But not all whistles are created equal: some signal for attention, some carry a tune, and some are just for fun. He explores the many ways whistling plays a role in our lives.
Trump executive order targets federal agencies, including library funding
A recent executive order from President Trump dismantles seven more federal agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the primary source of federal funding for museums, libraries and archives nationwide.
What could this mean for Texas institutions? Wendy Woodland, director of advocacy and communications at the Texas Library Association, joins the show to discuss potential impacts.
Lost and found: A forgotten history of DeWitt County comes back to life
A long-lost book detailing DeWitt County’s history before 1900 has resurfaced, more than a century after it was written in German. Beverly Bruns, a member of the county historical commission, found it tucked away in her attic but needed help unlocking its secrets.
Enter Dr. James Kearney, a Germanic Studies scholar at the University of Texas, who translated the work and brought it back to life. He joins the Standard to share the book’s remarkable journey.
Bird flu’s spread raises concerns, one year after jumping to dairy cows
One year ago, scientists identified a strain of bird flu in Texas dairy cows, marking a troubling development in the virus’s evolution. The strain has since infected dairy workers, cats and other species. Now, British researchers have confirmed the first case of avian flu in sheep.
Gregory Gray, an infectious disease epidemiologist at UT Medical Branch in Galveston, joins the show with the latest efforts to track and contain the virus.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
